Grand Theft Auto IV (Special Edition) Walkthrough & Strategy Guide

Multiplayer is the latest addition to the GTA console franchise, but it's easy to get lost in the myriad modes and options, which is why we're here to help!

Game Options

Most of the options in GTA are pretty self-explanatory. You can control what weapons appear, whether police, traffic, and pedestrians are turned on or off, and how long the match lasts for. But there are a couple of options you may not be familiar with...

Blip

A "blip" refers to the icon that appears above your opponent's heads, but this can be adjusted so it only appears based on a few criteria: whether someone's on your team, how close to you an opponent is, or whoever's winning.

Reticule Health

With this option enabled, a reticule will appear above any opponent's head you engage in battle which displays the amount of health and body armor they have remaining. Use this to your advantage; if an opponent is fully stocked and you're low on health, avoid them like the plague. But if the reverse is true, then pepper them with bullets to have them your way.

Respawn Distance

This setting dictates how close you respawn to where you last died. If it's set to "near," you'll pick up the battle right where you left off. However, if it's set to "far," it'll give you some breathing room, allowing you some time to collect weapons and better plan your attack angle.

Needless to say, "near" is better for those looking for quick, twitch based matches, while "far" is best for those who prefer a slightly slower, more strategic experience.